Mozambique: Flag carrier plans to double plane fleet to 22 by 2027 – director

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Mozambique: Flag carrier plans to double plane fleet to 22 by 2027 – director

11:55 CAT | 29 Sep 2023

File photo: Notícias

The Mozambique flag carrier Linhas Aéreas de Mozambique (LAM) plans to double its fleet of aircraft to at least 22 by 2027, the director of operations for the Mozambican airline told Lusa.

“In the next few years the influx of aircraft will be massive,” Hilário Tembe said in Inhambane, on the sidelines of the ceremony marking the resumption of the direct link between the city of Inhambane and Johannesburg, in neighbouring South Africa.

READ: Mozambique: Flag carrier LAM to start Johannesburg – Inhambane flights

According to LAM’s operations director, the Mozambican airline has a total of nine aircraft and plans to acquire three more this year to respond to the resumption of connections with neighbouring countries and the introduction of new routes.

“This year, we’ll probably end up with 12 aircraft (…) and then the plan is to have another 10 aircraft by the end of 2027,” said Tembe.

READ: Mozambique: LAM plans to restart Maputo – Lisbon flights with leased Boeing

According to Tembe, Mozambique has resumed flights to Harare in Zimbabwe and Johannesburg in South Africa since last year, and flights from Maputo to Lisbon are also expected to resume in November.

The Mozambican airline also announced that a new flight route will be introduced this year from Maputo to Cape Town, the South African capital.

“This year we are also introducing the Maputo – Lusaka [capital of Zambia] route, which we didn’t have before,” said LAM’s operations director.

The executive director of the South African company called in to manage LAM said on 9 September that the company had already negotiated the lease of a Boeing 737 freighter, just to handle cargo transport within the country and abroad, namely to South Africa, hoping to put a second one into service six months later.

“It’s an opportunity that could make the company profitable. Cargo transport is a very profitable business,” insisted Theunis Crous, director of Fly Modern Ark (FMA).

Theunis Crous also said that FMA has already mobilised US$15 million (€14 million) in funding for LAM’s current operation, which is being expanded with new routes and aircraft, which translates into an increase in passengers, 57,000 currently, compared to the previous average of 46,000 a month.

The ongoing strategy to revitalise the company follows years of operational problems related to a reduced fleet and a lack of investment, with some incidents, not fatal, associated by experts with inefficient aircraft maintenance.

READ: Mozambique: More planes, routes planned for flag carrier LAM rescue strategy – manager

Source: Lusa